Investigating a potential new drug target for tuberculosis
Official title: Characterizing the requirement of the mycobacterial BrkB ortholog in TB pathogenesis
Funded at Lake Forest College · NIH-10936733 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a protein called BrkB to see how it helps tuberculosis bacteria grow and cause illness, using zebrafish to find new ways to develop better treatments for tuberculosis, especially against tough, antibiotic-resistant strains.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lake Forest College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lake Forest, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $130,776 |
| NIH project number | 1R16AI184352-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10936733 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from tuberculosis, especially those with antibiotic-resistant forms of the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-tuberculosis infections or those who do not have a bacterial infection may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of a specific protein, BrkB, in the growth and virulence of tuberculosis-causing bacteria. By studying how mutations in BrkB affect bacterial growth in a model organism, zebrafish, the researchers aim to identify new drug targets that could lead to more effective treatments for tuberculosis. The project involves biochemical analysis and testing of BrkB's function in various conditions that mimic late-stage infections. This could provide insights into how to combat antibiotic-resistant strains of tuberculosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new therapies for tuberculosis, particularly for strains resistant to current antibiotics.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in targeting bacterial proteins for new drug development, indicating that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
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Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Conrad, William Henry — Lake Forest College
- Study coordinator: Conrad, William Henry
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding a potential TB drug target in the bacteria that cause tuberculosis
A scientist team is studying a bacterial protein called BrkB to see if it could be a new target for drugs to treat tuberculosis.
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How the BrkB protein helps tuberculosis bacteria grow
This work looks at whether a bacterial protein called BrkB helps TB bacteria grow and could become a new drug target for people with tuberculosis.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.